India can sustain a 3% current account deficit if it successfully projects an image of being a country that is growing fast and welcomes foreign and portfolio investment, states the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia. Deputy Chairman is also of the view that to project such an image India has to address many issues like power, fuel subsidies, etc.
India currently has a CAD which is hovering around the 4% mark largely due to the substantial rise in oil imports. Exports have done better than expected but on the back of record rise in imports, the country has been left with a trade deficit of $185 billion in the last fiscal.
However Ahluwalia feels that if India can bring about reforms like deregulating oil prices, allowing FDI in aviation and multi-brand retail, the CAD can be tamed. Ahluwalia is also of the opinion that energy prices have to be aligned with economic realities otherwise energy efficiency cannot be pursued.
On the growth prospect, Deputy Chairman has stated that even without any fresh doze of reforms, the economy can grow at 9% or more. “I believe with the structure that we have, it is possible to grow at 9%, even if no new reforms are done immediately. But the most important thing is to take care of these executive decision-making issues”.
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